When Tottenham play like this, overwhelming the opposition with their vitality, want and creativity, it doesn’t really feel outlandish to recommend that they may quickly be seen as genuine title challengers. Maybe there’ll come a time when a lightweight squad runs out of steam and the pure order resumes. But there is no such thing as a stopping Spurs in the mean time and, after they moved again to the highest of the Premier League with this win over a toothless Fulham, the scenes that adopted made it tempting to conclude that anything is possible under Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs, who stay unbeaten, aren’t only a workforce remodeled by Postecoglou; they’re a membership remodeled. The supporters have completely purchased into the Australian and have been bellowing his title into the north London sky lengthy after the ultimate whistle, having earlier swooned on the commanding defending of Micky van de Ven and the best way these glowing goalscoring bursts from Son Heung-min and James Maddison are making up for the lack of Harry Kane.
Fulham, whose defeat owed a lot to Calvin Bassey’s nightmarish defending, could possibly be grateful it completed 2-0 after being blown away by the vary of Postecoglou’s soccer. Spurs have been cruel, twice punishing Bassey’s ropey distribution, and will have scored extra. They push from each angle, the soccer fast and intuitive, inverted full-backs supporting the midfield. Maddison is on the coronary heart of the whole lot and, for gamers who laboured beneath the negativity of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Postecoglou’s ambition has given them a brand new lease of life.
Intriguingly, although, Postecoglou was not solely glad. Afterwards he spoke a couple of sloppy second half from Spurs, calling it the “worst 45 minutes we’ve had with the ball” all season. Fulham have been virtually provided a route again into the sport and Guglielmo Vicario made some essential stops. It was simple to think about Postecoglou planning a troublesome few coaching classes earlier than taking Spurs to Crystal Palace on Friday.
But Spurs nonetheless overran Fulham. There was an opportunity inside two minutes, Maddison sending Son by to increase Bernd Leno, and there was little suggestion that the hosts would miss the suspended Yves Bissouma. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg stepped seamlessly into midfield and Spurs dominated. Pedro Porro drew a determined foul from Antonee Robinson after a surge from right-back and one other opening went begging when a intelligent set piece ended with Van de Ven volleying over from shut vary after seven minutes.
When Bobby De Cordova-Reid bumped Maddison over, leaving Spurs’ chief inventive risk most aggrieved, it was simple to interpret it as an indication of Fulham attempting something to make their presence felt. But whereas the guests have lacked incision since promoting Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marco Silva is a brilliant supervisor. Fulham quickly adjusted and went shut when João Palhinha prolonged Vicario with a robust header.
Spurs regarded flummoxed for some time, the frustration constructing when Dejan Kulusevski teed up Richarlison to shoot large. One of many qualities that units good sides aside, nevertheless, is the flexibility to belief within the plan. For Spurs that meant retaining the foot on the accelerator and persevering with to carry a excessive line, which is simpler to drag off with the speedy Van de Ven in central defence.
The Dutchman has been a revelation since becoming a member of from Wolfsburg. His tempo was on present when he raced throughout to cease Carlos Vinícius reaching a through-ball from Willian and his aggressive defending performed a vital position in Spurs going forward within the thirty sixth minute.
The purpose arrived when Bassey’s go out from the again was intercepted by Van de Ven, who had superior into Fulham’s half. The ball ran to Richarlison and Fulham have been sluggish to recuperate. Son was alone within the centre and, discovered by Richarlison, the Spurs captain had time to swerve previous a problem earlier than bending a gorgeous right-footed shot past Leno.
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Nonetheless, whereas Son’s composure underlined the assumption operating by Spurs, others have been extra wasteful. Kulusevski was most culpable, dithering when he was by on purpose. Fulham had an opportunity to regroup. Silva reacted by changing Vinícius and Andreas Pereira with Raúl Jiménez and Alex Iwobi in the beginning of the second half.
Ever so briefly there was a special really feel, with Spurs a bit of tentative and Fulham attempting to say themselves. Sadly, although, the resistance solely lasted 9 minutes. Spurs focused Bassey and so they profited once they pushed the centre-back right into a useless finish on the correct. This time a rushed clearance fell to Højbjerg and, from there, it was a simple job for Son to ship Maddison by to information a low shot previous Leno.
At the least Fulham, who stay thirteenth, prevented conceding once more. Maddison virtually punished one other error from Bassey however Spurs needed to struggle for his or her clear sheet. Future Udogie was an adventurous marvel at left-back and Cristian Romero needed to make some thunderous challenges. Whereas Postecoglou wished extra, Spurs can dare to dream.
